Envy and Integrity

Brad from The Well Community Church leads a powerful sermon on the biblical narrative of David's rise and fall in 1 Samuel 18, using the metaphor of a roller coaster to illustrate how spiritual ascent is inevitably followed by descent. He draws a parallel between David’s journey—rising from shepherd to national hero, only to be hunted by King Saul—and the cyclical nature of spiritual life, where periods of joy and closeness to God (consolation) are followed by seasons of emptiness, doubt, and disorientation (desolation). Brad emphasizes that these 'desolation' seasons are not signs of God’s absence but are essential for spiritual maturity, citing figures like Ignatius of Loyola, John of the Cross, and Teresa of Avila to validate this ancient understanding of the 'Seasons of the Soul.' He warns against equating spiritual health with constant emotional highs and urges listeners to trust God’s presence even when it feels distant, especially in times of struggle. The sermon concludes with a call to embrace both consolation and desolation as part of a dynamic, lifelong relationship with God, grounded in the New Testament truth that believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit and thus eternally secure.